TITLE 16             OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 27     COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS

PART 16              CONTINUING EDUCATION

 

16.27.16.1             ISSUING AGENCY:  Regulation and Licensing Department Counseling and Therapy Practice Board

[16.27.16.1 NMAC – Rp, 16.27.16.1 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.2             SCOPE:  All professional clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, professional art therapists, professional mental health counselors, registered independent counselors, licensed mental health counselors, licensed associate marriage and family therapists, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, alcohol abuse counselors, drug abuse counselors, and substance abuse associates.

[16.27.16.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.2 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.3             STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  These parts are promulgated pursuant to the Counselor and Therapist Practice Act, Section 61-9A-9 and 61-9A-24 NMSA 1978.

[16.27.16.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.3 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.4             DURATION:  Permanent.

[16.27.16.4 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.4 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.5             EFFECTIVE DATE:  November 30, 2021, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[16.27.16.5 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.5 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.6             OBJECTIVE:  The objective of Part 16 is to inform licensees of continuing education hours required for license renewal.  Additionally, Part 16 established acceptable continuing education.

[16.27.16.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.6 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.7             DEFINITIONS:  [RESERVED]

 

16.27.16.8             CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:  Continuing education credit.  Effective for the renewal period beginning October 1, 1997, 40 contact hours of continuing education approved by the New Mexico counseling and therapy practice board will be required to be documented during each two-year renewal period.

                A.            Continuing education must be obtained during the expiring licensing period.

                B.            One contact hour of continuing education is 60 minutes.

                C.            Specific continuing education which must be obtained and verified:

                                (1)           12 hours of ethics related to counseling/mental health for all licensees;

                                (2)           nine hours in supervision related to counseling/mental health for all licensees who are supervisors.

                D.            Semester hour for the purpose of calculating continuing education units means that one semester credit hour of graduate coursework is equal to 15 continuing education units and one quarter hour of coursework is equal to 11.25 continuing education units.

[16.27.16.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.8 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.9             ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES:

                A.            approved by local, state, national, or international mental health related professional associations such as the national board for certified counselors, the American marriage and family therapy regulatory board, American art therapy association, art therapy credentials board, international certification reciprocity consortium, or the national association of alcohol and drug abuse council;

                B.            approved by other state regulatory boards of related mental health or substance abuse fields, including psychiatry, psychology and social work;

                C.            sponsored by international, national, regional or state mental health professional associations including psychiatry, psychology and social work, or state and federal divisions of substance abuse;

                D.            approved by the New Mexico counseling and therapy practice board;

                E.            college coursework will be accepted for continuing education as follows:

                                (1)           Semester hour for the purpose of calculating continuing education units means that one semester credit hour of graduate coursework is equal to 15 continuing education units and one quarter hour of coursework is equal to 11.25 continuing education units;

                                (2)           License types requiring a master’s degree or higher may utilize only graduate or postgraduate-level coursework beyond their initial master’s degree that is related to counseling and therapy. Undergraduate coursework is not acceptable toward continuing education requirements;

                                (3)           License types requiring an associate’s degree or higher can utilize undergraduate coursework taken as part of a bachelor’s degree program that is related to counseling and therapy or substance use disorders. If the licensee possesses a bachelor’s degree, the licensee can only utilize graduate and postgraduate-level coursework toward continuing education requirements for license renewal.

                F.            Pro Bono work shall be accepted for up to twenty continuing education credits during

each renewal cycle.  Such work shall be non-remunerated clinical in nature and performed only by independently licensed clinicians.  To qualify for continuing education hours, work must be performed for a non-profit organization or government entity by which the clinician is not currently employed, or otherwise associated.  Service sites shall be engaged in provision of substantial service to their community and the people of New Mexico.  Continuing education hours shall be awarded on the basis of one continuing education credit hour per four clock hours of service.  Clinicians will be supervised by site-based administrative staff and documented on service hour continuing education work sheet and documentation form available from the New Mexico counseling and therapy practice board.

[16.27.16.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.9 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.10          DOCUMENTATION OF PARTICIPATION:  The licensee shall be responsible for submitting proof of attendance of all continuing education hours at the time of license renewal.  All continuing education hours must be documented at the time the license is renewed.  The board reserves the right to require additional documentation of participation.  The board will notify the licensee of approval or disapproval of continuing education hours within 30 days after receiving documentation. The board shall notify licensees within 60 days after submission of the application for renewal if any continuing education units are not approved by the board. The licensee shall have 30 days from the board’s notice of disapproval to obtain additional continuing education units in compliance with board standards.

[16.27.16.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.10 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.16.11          FAILURE TO MEET CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:  The board will refuse to renew the licensee's license in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act, Sections 61-1-1 through 61-1-31 NMSA 1978.  If continuing education units requirements are not completed within the licensing period and by the expiration date, the licensee or registrant will be considered expired and will refrain from practicing.  Individuals unable to meet continuing education requirements due to circumstances beyond their control must submit a written request for a waiver 60 days prior to their renewal date.  Extenuating circumstances include illness, death in immediate family, military service, or other severe circumstances, which do not allow an applicant to meet continuing education requirements.  The applicant may request a one-time extension approved by the board and shall pay an additional non-refundable $300.00 fee.  The board will review each request on a case-by-case basis.

[16.27.16.11 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.16.11 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.17.16.12          REGISTRATION AS A CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER: A pre-approved continuing education provider shall possess the qualifications below:

                A.            age requirement of the presenter shall be a least 21 years of age.

                B.            hold an active independent license to practice in New Mexico as a licensed alcohol and drug

abuse counselor (LADAC), licensed professional art therapist (LPAT), licensed professional clinical mental health counselor (LPCC), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or licensed psychologist, or if holding an out of state license, meet criteria for licensure for New Mexico by credential or reciprocity.

                C.            Education requirements:

                                (1)           With the exception of licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselors, hold a masters or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling related field from an accredited institution; or

                                (2)           A licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor (LADAC) shall have three years of experience in the field of alcohol and drug abuse counseling.

                D.            An application for Pre-Approved CEU Provider must include:

                                (1)           Application fee of $100.00

                                (2)           a signed statement provided in the application indicating the presenter has read the code of ethics and agrees to be bound and governed by the code of ethics.

                                (3)           At least one complete course description with objectives

                                (4)           A copy of the presenter’s current license. Presenters must hold a current license in one of the following licensed disciplines:

                                                (a)           professional clinical mental health counselor;

                                                (b)           marriage and family therapist;

                                                (c)           professional art therapist;

                                                (d)           psychologist;

                                                (e)           independent or clinical social worker; or

                                                (f)            alcohol and drug abuse counselor;

                                (5)           A copy of the presenter’s resume or curriculum vitae

                                (6)           A mock CEU certificate for each course description presented with the application

                E.            Once an approved CEU Provider, additional courses do not need to be submitted for approval. All future coursework must promote growth and learning within the fields of counseling and therapy, and must abide by the code of ethics and the Counseling and Therapy Practice Act.

                F.            CEU Providers are responsible for maintaining course and attendance records for a period of no less than three years, and make copies of attendance certificates available to attendees upon request.

                G.            Failure to comply with the rules for CEU providers and the code of ethics may result in termination of the approval as a CEU provider or denial of renewal as a CEU provider and shall subject the provider to a $25.00 administrative fee for each CEU credit awarded without proper registration with the board pursuant to 16.27.17 NMAC.

[16.27.16.12 NMAC - N, 11/30/2021]

 

HISTORY OF 16.27.16 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC History:  The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives under:

Rule 11, Continuing Education, 3/20/1995

 

History of Repealed Material:

16 NMAC 27.11, Continuing Education - Repealed 6/15/2001

 

Other History:

16.27.11 NMAC – Continuing Education, filed 6/15/2001 was repealed and replaced by 16.27.11 NMAC – Continuing Education, effective 11/30/2021.